1 Corinthians 14:4 Commentary, explanation, study verse by verse

“ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ”

• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

  Edifieth himself - That is, the truths which are communicated to him by the Spirit, and which he utters in an unknown language, may be valuable, and may be the means of strengthening his faith, a...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

  He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the (e) church. (e) The company.

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

  1 Corinthians 14. Prophecy and Speaking with Tongues, their Relative Value and their Place in the Church Gathering. Paul now comes to the direct comparison between the two types of ecstatic speech...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

  edifieth . Greek. oikodomeo. See Acts 9:31 . church . App-186.

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

  4. He that speaketh in another tongue, edifieth himself. In place of what he had said before — that he speaketh unto God, he now says — he speaketh to himself But whatever is done in t...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue - In the Hebrew for instance, the knowledge of the depth a...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

  In an unknown tongue.— By γλωσση, tongue, Dr. Lightfoot, in this chapter, understands the Hebrew tongue; which, he observes, was used in the synagogue in reading the scripture, in praying, and...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. Edifieth himself - as he understands the meaning, of the particular "tongue;" but "the chu...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

  (e) Spiritual Gifts (iii) The Gift of Tongues subordinate to Prophecy The Apostle in this chapter deals with the abuse of the gift of tongues which characterised the Corinthians, and declares th...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue. — Better, He that speaketh in a tongue. The introduction of the word “unknown” destroys the whole force of the passage. All tongues — as distinct from langu...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

  Chapter 20 SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND PUBLIC WORSHIP Is the first twenty-five verses of this chapter Paul gives his estimate of the comparative value of the two chief spiritual gifts: speaking with tong...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

  the Gift of “Prophesying” 1 Corinthians 14:1-12 The word prophesy is used here, as so largely in Scripture, not in the limited sense of foretelling the future, but of pouring forth heaven-giv...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

  The apostle now submitted certain gifts to the test of love. Prophesying is desirable because it edifies others. Then as to Tongues. It was a gift that enabled men to speak to God, perhaps in prayer,...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

  (1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him;...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

  He that speaketh its an unknown tongue ,.... Be it the Hebrew language, or any other; some copies, and the Ethiopic version, read, "with tongues": edifieth himself ; his heart may be warmed, his a...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. Ver. 4. Edifieth the Church ] Therefore prophecy is the more worthy, because profitable. Pr...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

  Follow after love Namely, that love, the nature, necessity, and excellence of which are shown at large in the preceding chapter; pursue this, which far exceeds all extraordinary gifts, with zeal, v...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

  Chapter 12 has shown the placing of every gift in its own place in the body by the Spirit of God. Chapter 13 insists on love as the pervading influence for unity and peace in the functioning of the b...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

  On Spiritual Gifts. A. D.  57.       1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; knowledge or understanding of the things that any man speaketh, is necessary to the improvement of them, by their being a means to promote fa...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

  The Use Of Spiritual Gifts in the Gatherings of God's People (14:1-40). Having raised us up to heaven Paul now brings us abruptly back to earth as he continues to advise on the use of spiritual gi...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

  CRITICAL NOTES 1 Corinthians 14:1 . Follow after .—Taking up the thought of a “way,” 1 Corinthians 12:31 ; as this whole verse resumes the theme of 12, after the digression or episode of 13 “ P...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

  What is the subject of this chapter? Does it refer to the constant manner in which worship was conducted in the primitive churches; or does it refer to the manner in which men possessed of secondary...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

  EXPOSITION 1 Corinthians 14:1-46 The gift of preaching superior to the gift tongues . 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity; literally, chase; pursue. The word is one of w...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

  The Use of Spiritual Gifts in Public Worship. The gift of prophesying greater than that of tongues:

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

  1 Corinthians 14:14 ; 1 Corinthians 14:18 ; 1 Corinthians 14:19 ; 1 Corinthians 14:3

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

  Talking in Tongues 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The need for spiritual guidance in the matter of tongues. The church of today is beset by a group of people who very dogmatically...

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• 1 Corinthians 14:4 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

  Edifieth himself — Only, on the most favourable supposition. The church — The whole congregation.

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